Dogs, cats and other people

By: LINDA FRADKIN

Published 7:00 pm, Thursday, June 16, 2005

by Matthew Uncle Matty Margolis

Another avoidable tragedy

It has happened again. Twelve-year-old Nicky Faibish is dead. He was just a little boy, according to his distraught mother, and a very pleasant young man, according to his middle school principal. And now he is gone killed by the family pets inside his San Francisco Sunset District home near Golden Gate Park on Friday, June 3. This was a violent mauling and so gruesome that crisis counselors were summoned to help police officers deal with the outrageous tragedy.

How could this happen? Whos at fault? Could this have been avoided? These are the same tired questions that are asked over and over again, every time there is a dog attack and always after it is too late.

I wish we would view dog aggression with a preventive attitude. How can aggressive behavior be prevented? What do dog owners need to know? How can tragedy be avoided?##M:(full story)##

We know that Nicky did not attend school on Friday. He was home alone with his two 80-pound pit bulls, Ella and Rex. His younger brother and sister, mom and dad were not in the house. According to San Franciscos ABC7 news reports, his mother was never concerned about the dogs and even claims they were not vicious. Neighbors gave the dogs behavior mixed reviews. Some considered them friendly and well-behaved. Others suggested that the dogs were not always well-behaved and were sometimes even mean. Some reports suggested that the female dog was in heat at the time of the attack.

So why did this happen? First, young Nicky was home alone, without adult supervision. Children should never be left home alone with dogs of any breed. If the female was in heat, the male may have attempted to mount the dog. If the youngster tried to prevent this, it could have triggered an aggressive response.

But the problem goes beyond the irreversible moment on June 3. Were the individual temperaments of these two dogs non-aggressive? Were their genetic histories known? Did the dogs come from a reputable breeder? Were they well-trained early on? The answer to all of these questions may very well be no, and that is a recipe for disaster. Ella, by the way, was shot by an arriving police officer because the dog would not allow anyone inside the home. Rex was found in the back yard and is now at an animal shelter waiting for a decision about his fate.

So who is going to ask the important preventive questions? San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is gathering a special task force to look into what can and should be done about aggressive dogs in the city.

Although California law prohibits targeting a specific breed, there are some decisions that can be made regarding owner responsibilities when it comes to training, and especially as they relate to children. At this writing, the mayor did not have a specific proposal in mind, but he is seeking legislative action that, according to a spokesperson, does not include a breed ban.

If you have a dog and there are children in your home, please act responsibly. Never leave your children alone with your dog, regardless of the breed and how sweet and loving your dog seems to be.

I am really interested in your thoughts and comments as they relate to responsible dog owners and aggressive dog behavior. Please send your comments to the e-mail address below.

WOOF! Uncle Matty

Examiner columnist Matthew Margolis is the host of Woof! Its a Dogs Life. Send questions to dearuncle.gazette@unclematty.com.